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'American Idol,' 'The Voice' finale ratings drop

The Associated Press

Posted:
05/22/2014 04:31:56 PM EDT

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Ryan Seacrest, right, announces Caleb Johnson the winner at the American Idol XIII finale at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — The sharp decline in viewers for the season finales of "The Voice" and "American Idol" this week raises the question of whether music competition shows on television are fading out.

The year's final "American Idol" on Fox Wednesday was seen by fewer people than any Idol-crowning moment since the series began in 2002. The Nielsen company also said that NBC's "The Voice" was down 25 percent from its 2013 finale.

Since 2011, the audience for the "American Idol" season finale has sunk by a staggering 66 percent.

Fox is cutting back on "Idol" hours next season. NBC says it's too early to consider that for "The Voice."